Shock absorber



E. H.V SMITH SHOCK ABSOR-BER March 24, 1931.

Filed DSC- 26, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l E. H. SMITH SHOCK ABSORBER March 24, 1931.

Filed DSG- 25, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 @www 4 Patented Mar.` 24, 1931 naar. H. staring or LANsrNG, MICHIGAN, AssIGNonoF ONE- HALF- To CARL H.'

JnNiriNs, or carcass, iimiNois 1 snoer; ansonsnn appiicauonjsiea nekenibei satisfies. l seriai No. 7738s.,

This invention relates to shock `absorbers particularly adapted for interposition 'be tween a portion of the vehicle body orcha'ssis and an axle or the like of the vehicle, although 5 features and principles involved are of broader application and may be utilised in "construction analogous to those Yot a vehicle wherein two or morerelativelymovable-parts are incorporated. I* l 0 One of theprimary objects ot the invention'is to provide a shock absorber which will retard or dampen the spring movement from either extreme position, i. e. trom'aposition of eXtreme compression Ior a position oi: ex-

treme expansion, to the neutral 'positionj but which will oiier little,'if any, resistance to n movement of the springunder the `iifiif'luence of therelatively movable parts tov which the springis connected fromthe neutral position of the spring.,r to either of said extreme positions, except as hereinafter set forth. In other words,v my object is to eliminate or reduce to a minimum the violent rebound tranvmitted to a vehicle when the spring is react- 5 ing after passage oi' the wheel over aj raisedA obstruction or bump in the roadway .andthe provision Oiineans, which upon the reaction of the extended or'eXpanded vehicle spring occurringl at the instant 4the wheel ot the vehicle drops into a depression, will eliminate or reduce toa minimum the tendency of the vehicle body to follow the wheel into'tlie hole and, oi' course, preventv` the correspendingV bump or shock wliichjwould result.r

AAnother object includes the provision of a shock absorber inV which movements oi the spring over predetermined distances or under predetermined pressures will be unretarded to or from the neutral positionfor position lof equilibrium in order that a maximum action for the vehicle spring during'V passage .of the a vshock absorberqembodvinsr' anyorall of vehicle over be had.

small bumps or depressions may Still another object includes the `provision 5 of damping or retarding means for vehicle ually `reduce or.v retard further expansile'or 0 compressive ymovements.so that the usualrubcondition.

similar securingV means.

ber bumper or buii'er interposed between the springoic. the vehicle or between the two relaltively movable partsof the vehicle maybe eliniinated and so'that the usual strap connected between the body and the axle ofthe vehicl'e'or 'preventing'the rexpansion from carrying the axle and body'apart an undesi'rable distance may* also be omitted.` vIn other words, provision ismade fora severe retarding etlecton movements from then'ormali or neutral position or position of equilibrium oi thespring toward either extreme position, 1.v e. positions of eXtreme' compression or eXtreme expansion,v only at the end or ata predetermined distance from 'the end of suchmovements in order that the shock absorber may act as afcush'ionbetween the parts "of the veliiclewhen the vehicle spring is fully compressed and whieh'will serve to function as the usual rebound strap when the vehicle spring is'fully extended-or in its expanded A Jfurther object is to providea shock absorberin which a maximum retardingor snubbing efiect will become instantaneously effective on movementsof the spring or the relatively movable portions of the vehicle from positions ofgeiitreme compression or expansion toward the neutral position or `position of equilibrium of the .spring and the position 1of rest of the relatively movable portions of the vehicle, respectively` and Ifto provide this maximum retardingr'action dur.-

ing a predetermined movement o'l the vehicle portionsor of the spring'infsuch direction and'to thereafter gradually reduce-,the retardinn'` action to a Zero value upon vcontinued movement 'of the'fportions to theirposition of rest or ofy the spring toits neutral posif tion or position of equilibrium. A further obiect includes the vprovision of the foregoing featureswhich may bereadily attachedl to or. detached Ifrom thefvehi-cle 'traine vby means` ot iv-"single bolt or' other A stilliurther object include theprovision of bearines for the lever arms of; a Ashock absorber of such nature that the wear normallyfencou'ntered'in the use `of a vShock-j ab- Yso sorber of the lever type maybe reduced to a minimum and the parts upon the occurrence of any wear will be automatically adjusted or taken up to prevent rattling and wear due to loose joints and further, one which will not only have all the iiexibility of a ball joint, but will be provided with a lubrica ing system requiring a minimum of .attent tion. A c,

Many other objects include the provision of a shock absorber which willbe dust and mud proof, easy and economical to manufacture, simple in installation and repair, and many other features of novelty eonstruce tion and operation which will be or should become apparent after perusal of the fol.- lowing description andV claims. vand after viewing the drawing in which: Y Fig. 1 is a side elevation of oneform of shock absorber'. constructed in accordance with my invention, the housing Vbeing broken away to show the interior mechanism.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken at right angles to the' view of Fig. 2 on the line ofFig. 1.

Fig. 4 isa detail .view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a diagrammatic illustration of the action of one form of spring for use on a vehicle in connection with which my shock absorberv may beutilized ;A in this case a spring ofthe semi-elliptical type, and

YVFigs. 6 and' 7 are diagrammatic views of one manner. in which my shock absorber may be constructed to operate; 6 showing the preferred action on movements of the vehicle spring towardneutral position and Fig. 7 showing the preferred action on movements from its neutral position.

Referring to the drawing and particularly Vto Figs.' l'to 4 inclusive, a vertical arm 2 forming one of the operating levers off the shock absorber illustrated is adapted to be pivotally connectedvto either of two relatively movable portions of a vehicle, such as to the axle, and this arm or lever 2 is also pivotally connected by a pivot pin 3 and otherV mechanisms to be hereinafter 'described to a.

normally horizontal leverV arm 4`which is pivoted on a pin 5 adapted to be secured through Vra lock washer' and nut6 and 7*, re.- spectively, to another of said relatively movable portions Of the vehicle, for instance, :as in thiscase, to the frame 8 ofthe vehicle.

The shock absorber is spaced' from the vehiele frame by means of any suitable spacing block9 which abuts between the frame 8 and `a reenforcingblocl: 11, between which and what l shall Aterm'a' back friction plate 12, one portion 13 ofthe yhousing of the shock absorber is securely clamped. 'Y'Bolts 14, having their Shanks bent at right angles, may secure both the back friction plate 12,

.the housing 13 and the reenforcing plate 11 together and be secured to an anchor plate 15 abutting at one end against the back of the housing 13 and atl one face against the under side of the frame 8 of the vehicle by means of lock washer and nut 16 and 17 respectively. Any other means for securing the shock absorber and the part of the vehicle to which it is to be attached together, may be utilized as will berv apparent. The nut and bolt hold the anchor plate 15 tightly against the bottom of the vehicle frame and prevent rotation of the device around the @enter pin. 5..

Two'friction discs 18 are engaged with the U lever arm 4 one on each side thereof, and the rear plate isadapted to be frictionally engaged under certain conditions with the friction plate 12, while the front friction plate 1 8 is arranged for frictional engagement under certain conditions with a friction plate 19, The friction plate 19 has a circular groove 21 cut in one face thereof adjacent its periphery within which two orvmore steel Vballs or rollers 22 are adapted to roll, while a locking plate 26 is provided with projections 2 7 in the faces of which a double taper is out to provide a groove 28 for reception of one of the balls 22. A bushing 24 is provided. in the pivot opening of the lever arm 4 in order that the latter may have a greater bearing surface for oscillatory movement on the pin 5 without wobbling and is preferably of such width that it in turn forms a bearing surface for the frictionv plates 18 during their rotational vor oscillatory movements, while the friction plate 19 is "directly mounted on the Apin 5 for oscillatory movement thereabout.

The friction plate 19 is provided with a forked extension 29 at one side thereof, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, for the reception of a pin 30 of less diameter than the distance between the prongs of the fork, the pin 30 being rigidly attached at 31 to an adjusting arm also mounted on the pin 5. The locking plate 26 is also provided with a forked extension 3.3 between the prongs of which a pin 34 closely fits. This pin issecured, as at 35, to a bell crank` lever 36 pivotally connected to the adjusting plate 32 by means of a pivot screw Y 37. The bell crank lever 36 is provided at its upper end with a cam follower pin 38 adapted to contact with a cam surface, 'generally indicated at 39, formed on the perimeter or edge of the circular section of the lever arm 4. The cam 39 is preferably provided with four risers, 40, 40(1,406 and 400, providing five steps for a purpose which will hereinafter more clearly appear. The pin 38 is kept in Contact with this cam surface through the medium of a spring 41 suitably connected betweenthe bell crank lever 36 and the adjust` ing plate 32.

The rear casing 13 is slotted for a distance corresponding, tothe maximum distance of lin mer/,93o

u entry ofdustand mud, a'slide memberf42 preferably 'of springsteel isslotted to receive the' ar1n"4 and Y'iXed thereto so that upon movement of the armthe slide member will move with itfand retain the slot in the casing closed at all'vtimes. The forward partof the easing, indicated at 43,'is of anfinterior diametery equal to the outsidefdiameterof the cas'- ing memberl in order'that the member `13 may beftelescopic'ally\y received lwithin the member 43' and is heldiin'place between a nut 44 and aloclrbushing'nut45, forming a bearingsurface'for the locking plate 26 and ad#` justing' arm 32. Thefcasing member 48"is 'prevented VfromY turning duringthe tighteni ing of nut 440i* of nut `45-`b`y means of a slot adapted'to receive and be positioned over a sorevvf46 which passes through a slot formed 'circumferentially offthe rear Yhousing member 13 for adjustment therealong, in order to correspondingly adjust ,the forked end 47 of the Vadjusting platef32` throughwhich the screw passes. A nutf48 is adaptedto secure the arm 32 in adjusted position.

' Theconne'ction betweenthe Vlarm 2 andthe arm `4 provides a novel bearing combining the feature of automatically taking up wear with theflexibility of a ballfjoint with a'hollow inV teri'or whichy may contain alubric'ant providing eXtreme usage with afminimum of'lubrication or other attention "A cup member 49 of 'substantially theshape shown in Figs. 1 and 2, has its interiorfsurfac'e, indicated at l51, struck'on a radius, or'in otherwords, curved to provide a bearing ysurface orlseatfor the reception ofa` sec'ond'cup like: member 52 having an exterior surfaceV correspondingly curved to the surfacel 51 in,` order 'thatfthe member 52 .may rotate or oscillate about the axis of pin 3er the longitudinal 'axis of arm 2f The cup'l is, of course,"preferablysecured tothe arm 4and thecup memberf52 is securedvto the arm 2,`while the pivot pin passes through both and extendsbeyondthe arm 2'v in order'that ay spring 53 may be interposed between a cotterkey- 54 inthe pin and -the outer faceof the arm2- to urge the-'two cupped members together toretain them in tight telescopingrelation regardless of the wear. Grease or packing soaked' with. grease or other'lubrioant may be placedwithin the cup 52, as indicated at 54. 't f i Y In operation, with thepinA 5 securing the shock absorber to the vehicle frame andthe -arm 2`sec`ured to the vehicler airle,\vl1`en'-the end of arm4'is`mo'ved upwardly' fromy the neutral position por l position of'rest' which it assumeswhen the vehicle' 1s still or lmoving along a level surface (-neutr'alposition shown f inthe drawing), pin38 ridesA along'thercam surface between risers l40a and 40b`until it reachesthe riser 4Gb. `During this movement noY frctional resistance-is encountered, but

dropdown the riser 406 under theinfluence i of spring 41, the leverBG'is yswung in a coun'- ter-clockwise direction, thereby movinglo'clring plate 2,6 'in the same direction causing vba'lfls22 to roll upthe inclinesto the positions indicated in` dotted lines at 22a in Fig. 1. `This produces a slight wedging action between the friction plates 19 and 18 and arm 4 suttii ciently to cause the arm'- '4 on further move-y ment upward to slightly rotate the friction plate 19 in a countereclockwis'e direction until the Aclearance between oneprong of the "forked projection29 and the pin 8O has been Vtaken up, but ,during this movement of the plate 19,'which is'V in the same direction as the 'former movement of the locking plate 26, the balls 22 will be rolled back down the incline to ors'ubstanti ally to the bottom of the groove provided bythe juncture of the inclines' on each projection. This will release any pressure on'the plates 19 and 18 andconsequently during further movement of the arm 4 up'- wardly and for the angular distance deter mined bythe distance between the risers 40?) and 40e, there will be no frictional resistance offered to the movement of the arm 4. However,when'the arm 4 has moved upwardly toward `its 'upper limit and to the position where the pin 38 drops `down 'the vriser 400, l

-is'iixed' iii position by pin 80, causing balls 22 to again ride up Vthe inclined surfaces in the direction of theirpositions illustrated at 22a. This imposes frictional resistance through 'the plates `19 and 18 against the arm 4,'v retarding its further upward movement and, depending'upon'the movement of the lever 36, underthe influence of the cam V"surface which may be gradually tapered down, the locking plate 26 'may be rotated'still further rin acounterclockwisedirection gradually increasing the' pressure against the friction plates 19 and 18 to increasingly retard furthermovement of the arm.` The'action that has' just been described is diagrammatically illustrated in the upper yhalf of Fig. 7.

,loot

' The action of the device on movement from the position of extreme compression, which has just been described, toward the neutral position will now be set forth. Assuming lthat the pin 38 is resting in the dotted line `position 88a with the vehicle spring comingV CTI somewhere about 'the positions indicated 'at 22a, pressure will be exerted against plates 19 and 18l suliiciently to cause the arm 4 through its trictional engagement with these plates to rotate the plate 19 in a clockwise direction until the lower prong of theforked projection 29 contacts with the-bottom side of pin 30. This clockwise movement of the plate 19 will tend to roll the balls 22 further up the inclines in their directionV of movement toward the positions indicated at 22a, thereby instantaneously increasing the frictional interengagementof the several tric'- tion plates and consequently imposing a great frictional resistance to'movement ot the arm 4 downwardly or in a Vclockwise direction. As soon as the pin 38 strikes the riser 400 and `is raised, it swings thelever 36 in a clockwise direction thereby rotating the locking plate 26 inthe same direction for the angular subtended distance of rise of the riser. This movement will rolll the balls 22 down the inclines toward the neutral position toa position which willr be assumed to be indicated at 22a. This will lessen the Jrictional interen gagementY of the several Vriction plates, but

f the trictional resistance depending on the design of the cam surfaces may remain the same until the vpin 38 strikes the riserl 406, when .it will again be raised andcause the locking plate 26 to. be rotated another increment in a clockwise direction, rolling the balls 22 to their neutral or central position. This sequence of movements is illustrated in the 'upper-half of Fig. 6.

`VOn movements toward extreme expansion of the vehicle spring, the lever arm 4 first rotates from the neutral position in a clockwise direction which carries rthe locking plate 26 likewise in a clockwise direction rolling the balls 22Y up the inclines to some position such as thatindicated at 226 until thel pin 38 strikes the riser 40a, whereupon the plate 19which has since the previously described movements, assumed its normal position, new moves a 'slight distance until the clearance between the lowermost prong of the forked projection 29 vhas contacted with the/pin 30, which movement 'of the plate 19 Yreturns the balls 22 to their neutral position in the bottoms of the grooves formed by the juncture of the inclined surfaces. The balls remain'in this neutral position duringV the time the pin 38 is traveling from the Ariser 40a to the riser 40, but upon engagement of the pin with the Yriser 40, the plate 19 being p held by the pin 80, the locking plate 26 will be rotated -in a clockwisedirection to return the balls to their position at 226, imposing i'rictional resistance to further movement of thev lever 4 downwardly or in a clockwise directionand thus vopposing further expansion of the spring; This action serves the purposeot the Ausual rebound strap.

UponvreturnV movement of the spring and the ann 4 to the neutral position from the position of extreme expansion of the spring, assuming that thel pin 38'is at the-position indicated in dotted lines at 386, initial counter-clockwise movement of the arm 4 will serve to rotate the plate 19 in a counterclockwise direction, also tending to movethe balls 22 further up the inclines from theirpositions indicated at 226 until, further movement of the plate 19 is limited by abutment Of the Aupper prong of the projection 19 against the toprof pin 30. Now assoon as the pin 38 drops down the riser 40, the locking plate 26 is given' a counter-clockwise movement which rolls the balls 22 back down the inclines to some Apositionvsuch as that indicated at 226, where they remain and impose a certain trictional retarding effect on further counter-clockwise.movement of the arm 4 until the riser 40a has been reached when the trictional resistance will be removed and the parts restored to their normal position.

No attempt has beenV made to illustrat anything but the simplestform of cams and cam actions, although it kwill be apparent that with various designs of cams, various actions may beobtained,l and as those skilled in the art may readily Vunderstand the invention without a description of every modification of cam action, I have not deemed it necessary to show or describe other forms or types of the invention.

In order to provide for any adjustment, such as might be required due to a variation in the distance between the vehicle axle and the frame, the rotation of adjusting arm 32 will place itin such .a position as to hold plate 26 in that position which will allow the steel'balls 22 toA be at the bottom 1 of the groove formed by the tapers on the wedged projections 27 when the whole device is in neutral position. This adjustment is obtained by tightening and loosening the Vscrew 46 and nut 48 with the consequent slight rotation of the outer casing 43. Any wear between the rictional plates may be lcompensated 'by adjusting nut 45I until the e balls22 are held rigidly between the projections 27 and the friction plate 19 when the Vballsrare at the bottom of the groove formed Iby the tapers of the projections 27. Tightening of v.nut 44l will lock the vparts in adjusted position.

From vthe foregoing it will be apparentv that I have provided a novel shock absorber adaptable to` many different Ytypes of construction wherein it may be 'desirable to utilize a shock-absorber and capable of modification .in many respects to ksuit varying conditions, circumstances and requirements. Since,'therefore, my invention isof broader application and susceptible of various modiications; other than illustrated and described Y hereimpI do. not desire tfbelmted Q the i specific form shown and described, but only by the spirit of the invention and the scopo of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In combination, two relatively mov-V values, the retarding edectsof the first and` second said means being unequal.

2. In combination, a spring, two vehicular members connected to and spaced by said spring forlrelative movements in a plurality of directions toward and from a position of' equilibrium or rest, normally inoperative friction devices including rotatable elements having connection with said members and means operative during predetermined movements of said spring away from an'd'to-` vward said position for frietionally interengaging said devices, to retard'movements of said members corresponding to movements of said spring. v

3. A device of the character described comvprising, an armpivoted at one end and adapted to be connectedto one of a pair of relatively movable members at its other end, a

cam secured to said arm, a relatively stationary member, a cam follower pivoted to said`r relatively stationary member and engaged with said cam, and means connected with said cam follower and operable thereby for imposing frictional resistance to predetermined movements of said 4., A device of the character described comprising, a lever arm adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to one of twor relatively movable members and to be connected by its other end to the other of said relatively movalbly members, acam surface on the first said end of said leverarm, a relatively stationary member, an oscillatable element, a second4 lever pivoted intermediate its ends to said stationary member, a cam follower on one-end'y of said secondlever and riding on said cam surface, a connection between the otherend of said second lever and said element for'mov-V of the character described com fprising, a. lever arm adapted to be pivotally connected atfone end to one of two relatively movable members and to be connected by its other end to the other of said relatively movable members, a relatively 'stationary member, an oscillatable element, a second lever pivotedk intermediate its ends to said stationary member and having connection with said element for moving the same, means connecting said second and firstsaid levers for moving the second upon predetermined movements ofthe first, and ymeans operated by predetermined movements of said element for imposing frictional resistance to certain movements of said lever arm. 6. A device of the character described comprising, a lever arm adapted to be pivotally connected at one end to one of two relatively movable members and to be connected by its other end tothe other of said relatively movale members,a relatively stationary member, an oscillatable element, a second lever pivoted intermediate its ends to saidfstationary member and havin g connection with saidY element for moving the same, means connecting rsaid second-and first said levers for moving the second upon predetermined,movements of the first, and means includinga friction plate engageable with said lever arm upon predeterminedmovements of said'element for imposing frictional resistance to certain' movements of said lever arm. 7. A. device of the character described com 'prisingg a lever arm adapted to be pivotally connected at. one end to one of two relatively movable ymembers and to be connected by its other end tothe other of said relatively movable members, a relatively stationary member, an os'cillatable element, a second lever pivoted intermediate its endsto said stationary inember and havingconnection with said element yfor moving the same, means connecting said second and l'irst said levers for moving the second upon predetermined movements of the first, a plate adapted to frictionally engage said lever arm, and means interposed between said oscillatable element and said plate for urging said plate into frictional engagement with said lever arm upon predetermined movements of said element.

8'. A device of the character described comprisingzan arm pivoted at one end and adapted to be connected to yone of a pair of rela-l tively movable disc members at said end, aVV cam secured to said arm, a relatively stationary memb'er,a cam follower pivoted to said 'relatively stationary member andlengaged withsaid cam and means connected with said ing lateral movements of said disc members to impose frictional resistance to predeter .mined movements of said arm In lwitness of the foregoing I affix my` signature.

EARL n.v SMITH.

' leo 

